Vegetation Structural Properties & Biomass

Theme Overview

TERN AusCover provides national data sets that describe a range of structural properties of vegetation communities, including measures of cover, height, and biomass.

Learn More About This Theme

A core data set includes the Persistent Green Vegetation Fraction and Wooded Extent, which provide information on where woody vegetation occurs across Australia and what the fraction of persistently green vegetation is (normally foliage on woody vegetation). Similar products for Foliage Projective Cover are also available for Queensland and New South Wales.

Biomass information can be derived from TERN AusCover’s vegetation height, cover and age class map of Australia, which is based on Landsat, radar (PALSAR) and laser altimeter information (ICESat/GLAS). This information combined with our library of field data can be used to assess the spatial distribution of biomass in Australia.

Mangrove monitoring - collection of data, Mangrove monitoring sites

Collection of derived and quality assessed data files for the mangrove monitoring system for Australia. These data are used to assess historical and current mangrove dieback and health.

Australian Ground Cover Reference Sites Database - ABARES

The ground cover reference sites database includes site descriptions and field measurements of the different cover fractions at sites across Australia. The data were collected by government agencies in all states and the Northern Territory as part of the ‘Ground cover monitoring for Australia’ project.

Hemispherical photography

Hemispherical photography can be used to estimate the leaf area index (LAI) and provides structural measurements that can be used for cal/val of LiDAR derived products. This dataset includes raw imagery and ancillary data.

SLATS Star transects

Each plot consists of three transects laid out in a star shape, with 100 observations along each (300 observations in total). Transect measurements include a densitometer for measuring woody vegetation, a laser pointer for measuring the ground cover and low woody vegetation and basel measurements.

Single trees were extracted from the TLS data and quantitative structure models were used to estimate the tree volume directly from the point cloud data. Above-ground biomass was inferred from the derived volumes and basic wood density information.

Biomass plot library

The Biomass Plot Library is a collation of stem inventory data across federal, state and local government departments, universities, private companies, and other agencies, driven by the need for cal/val data to underpin national mapping of above-ground biomass. The library will be added to over time.

Airborne LiDAR - raw and QA data for all sites

Collection of raw and quality assessed or processed (where applicable) data files for each survey site that has been flown. Airborne LiDAR can be used to derive high resolution terrain or surface models and canopy structural information including individual tree identification.

Download our ‘Good Practice Guidelines’

TERN AusCover supports a nationally consistent approach to the calibration, validation, and delivery of earth observation data products. To ensure that earth observation data is useful to a wide range of users, the collection and delivery of this data needs to be accurate, precise, and use reproducible methods. To support the earth observation community in achieving a high quality and consistent approach nationwide, we’ve developed our ‘Good Practice Guidelines’ that provide advice on calibrating and validating earth observation data.
The Guidelines are provided as a free and accessible tool to anyone working in earth observation. They are also intended to be a dynamic resource that will be updated over time as new knowledge and best-practice processes emerge. Please contact us if you have feedback or questions.
The Guidelines draw upon the knowledge and experience of our national expert network, and also internationally agreed protocols and standards. We are grateful to the external and international reviewers who refined the Guidelines prior to their release.